broke parts built XJ..slow progress

[Underpowered]

figured i would post up the to date build on my XJ, and keep it up to date with future plans and ongoing upgrades.

the craigslist pics before i even brought it home

brought it home. started work on it immidiately. first was a front bumper. 4x4x.25 box tube

ended up modding it before i ever put it on. added a reciever hitch tube in it, and some paint.

then decided to paint most of the jeep where it had been welded on and such by the PO. needed to grind it down and cover it up before the rust ate away to much

also, added some retread tires to replace two highly worn swampers.

next in line, was some sort of doors. the stock doors were literally ripped off the body. so a little quick fab work and i had operating doors for the time being

 

[Underpowered]

next, scored some FREE 33x14.5-15 boggers for the rear. the swampers were moved up front and the re-treads became spares.

here is where the broke parts piece comes into play. first ride out, i destroyed the pinion in the stock D35.

so it got chucked into the scrap pile, now a 29 spline 8.25 out of a 97 XJ resides in its place.

back to menial stuff. it was cold wheeling in below freezing weather all the time with out doors and windows so i had to do something. lexan covers for the doors, rear side windows and a temp window for the very back.

then the latest mod is my corner markers on the front bumper. after crushing my front fender and corner marker lights on a tree root in a creek, i added the corner markers for protection more than actual markers, as i can't really even see them from inside the jeep.

i also made a tailgate for it out of the same material i used for the doors, some 1x1x.120 box tube, then used 3/4" shaft for hinges.

 

[Underpowered]

now for the current/upcoming stuff.

last trip out i got stuck, blew a u joint which in turn took out the T-case. upon recovery a LCA got bent.

so, i currently am in process of replacing my cracked NP242 with a NP231. adding an SYE to the 231 so i only have to carry one trail spare D-shaft for front and rear.

and am replacing the bent LCA with just a stock replacement, but this summer i plan on going with Long arms as a permanent replacement.

 

[Shaggy]

Not a bad ride. I liked the front bumper you add. Nice fab work. How long have you had it now?

 

[Underpowered]

i picked it up right before around thanksgiving, first time out was first weekend in december. has not been out in the same state since i got it, always done something new to it before each trip out.

i plan on making a matching rear bumper sometime in the near-ish future after i finish some other projects with it.

 

[Underpowered]

tore out the interior of the Heep today. getting rid of all carpet and anything prone to water damage. and figured out i stalled in a water hole last time because my fuse box was under water, which i assume grounded out the ignition.

but here is what i found after pulling up the carpet

and my wonderful cracked t-case, hard to see but there is a hairline crack most of the way around the tailshaft housing

bent LCA (pretty sure a bad axle seal as well due to teh drippings on the tire)

and the dangle down

 

[Shaggy]

Wow, nice hole it the floor. So you going to spray liner the floor?

 

[Underpowered]

yeah, gonna either roll on some herculiner, or buy the duplicolor arisol can spray liner. not sure which yet, have yet to price the roll on kind.

and while the interior is stripped, gonna go ahead and order my cage and install it.

 

[Underpowered]

decided today, after a little thinking i am gonna ditch my current doors. gonna re-make a set out of the same material, but make my mounts attach to the roll cage, so since the doors will be mounted farther in, i am gonna have to make the slightly smaller than they currently are unless i came up with some funky mounts.

figure mounting to the cage will be much better than the current body mounts

 

[Underpowered]

finished stripping the interior today. all carpet is gone. floor is worse than i originally thought, so i may end up plating the entire floorpan with 1/8" plate front to the rear seat, all but the tranny tunnel.

still have to order my cage and my liner to coat the interior with.

 

[kickitandholdit]

ha bad ass should put some stacks on it through the hood.

haha craigslist is making the world better

 

[Underpowered]

it is was a v-8, i would consider them, not for long, but would still consider them lol. but the 6 popper, stacks just won't do it.

 

[kickitandholdit]

it is was a v-8, i would consider them, not for long, but would still consider them lol. but the 6 popper, stacks just won't do it.

haha well that only means you need a V8!

 

[Underpowered]

maybe if the 4.slow ever gives up ghost. but other than a lifter that is tapping like none other, this one runs like a top.

but i do have a 305 laying around that was bought for my ZJ and never put in. but i do think the ZJ may need it sooner, as it is not sounding so healthy

 

[squeaky3]

tyler just put some more gear oil into it and you wont hear that knocking again

have you ordered the cage and stuff for it yet??

 

[Underpowered]

i am waitin on my tax check to actually order the cage. but i do have most other parts to fix it, everything but shocks. gonna try to get teh t-case together and in next weekend, and the control arm should not be to hard. so it should move under its own power by the end of next weekend i hope.

still have to order shocks, extended brake lines, and the cage. also should probably change the oil in it as well, drain some of the 80-90w out of it lol.

 

[Underpowered]

cut out my new floor boards today. go from the front of the cab (flat part) to about 8" shy of the rear seats.

 

[squeaky3]

wow so you are really replacing the whole floor pan

hope it turns out nice

you gonna bedline it or anything when you are done?

 

[Underpowered]

well i was only gonna patch it, then i saw the scrap sheet steel at work, and just cut out what i needed whatever length it was, and it turns out with my pattern, i lack all of about 8" of covering the whole floor. so yeah, pretty much just replacing it all.

trying to decide how much of the interior to put back in now. i think it looks cool without the console and such in it, but i did like having cupholders and a small storage box. so i think i am gonna leave the console out, and just make a small box with cupholders in it.

and i plan on coatning pretty much the whole interior with rustoleum bedliner, i can get it for about $43 a gallon from wally world.

 

[kickitandholdit]

sweet. i wana see how you go about building a box with cup holders sounds fun